Defective development of eyes and brain.

A little girl, 5 years of age, was placed under my professional care on December 11, 1884, for defective development of eyes and brain, apparently from constitutional delicacy, and then originating from the effects of a fall. It is not easy to gauge the effects of a fall ; usually the point is really this : What is the quality of the person who falls ?

In this case the patient is the coal-black variety of the strumous ; her forehead was low and projecting ; she was blind from double cataract, due probably to shock in the first instance, and then the lenses gradually silted up.

The child was dull, nervous, readily frightened by the least noise, and she had been vaccinated in the usual way successfully. I proceeded first against the vaccinosis with Thuja 30, and this seemingly caused a bout of vomiting, whereupon improvement in the vision set in.

January 5, 1885. — Grinds her teeth at night.

Luet. CC.

February 1. — Pupils less dilated ; decided general amelioration, and notably in the state of her nerves ; she is less irritable, and much more amenable to reason.

Thuja C. then followed, but apparently did no good, when Luet. CC. was repeated.

March 24. — Sight and temper better ; sleeps well ; she has, and has had for long, ill-smelling foot-sweats ; she can now see large capital letters, as well as at a greater distance ; and, for the first time in her life, her bowels act well of themselves.

The treatment was continued very irregularly till June 1888, since when I have no further information, and the condition then reported to me (I did not see her) was thus described by her father, — " She sees better, and walks about with increased confidence."

The principal point of interest to me in this case was the very decided good effects of Platanus occidentalis 0, which was given for a number of months with very evident benefit to the nutrition of the child's lenses, and consequent improvement in her vision. The dose was five drops night and morning.

The treatment of this case was carried on in a very irregular manner, owing to a variety of circumstances, and as patient lived at a great distance I was not able to see her.